CHAPTER TWO

His heart stopped. Hermione Granger.

She was on the door looking at the cropped mellow grass.

Her ginger hair curled up in a bun at the back out of which some flicks were coming out in her shining eyes. Was she crying?

Draco heaved a breath and took a step.

Hermione looked up. Her cheekbones visible under her shallow cheeks tinged pink because of the winter. When their eyes met, everything stopped. Draco and Hermione looked at each other and did not move. Silver tears swimming in her eyes streaked down her beautiful face.

Hermione was astonished, broken, happy and extremely sad at the same time. She felt like she was about to break down. Her heart ached with an outburst of emotions. There was no doubt why the charming, witty and marvelous Draco Malfoy was here. It was true. True after all, her anxiety and excitement started vibrating the skin of her body.

She could have been faster than anyone in the world in running to him. Ruffle his hair the way it would annoy him and kiss him into oblivion.

But could she?

She was in the motion of starting her sprint but then she hesitated, and stopped.

Draco Malfoy's heart seemed promising a heartbeat never again in his chest pressed in tension. The tear tracks were very cool by the icy wind and he thought how his cheeks would tinge pink. Just like Hermione's.

She seemed to be contemplating more than just words. Her eyes glistened under the cracked sky with the faint streaks of the evening sun.

Hermione stepped forward with great difficulty as her breathing had never come back since what seemed a year ago. "Why are you here?" was all she could say.

Draco looked surprised and replied "For you." He walked up to her and held her hand. She flinched, her face looked like was crumbling in pain. "I love you Granger." He found the bravery to say. Reminding himself that he had to tell her, he continued. "And I will always love you more than anything else in this world." He whispered his voice sounded cracked and kissed her right on the rosy lips he craved to touch.

Hermione stood stony not moving but her chest seemed to heave a breath. But her body seemed to be shivering.

By the cold?

By her tears?

Or the pain?

Draco wanted to look at her; he wanted to see if she was okay. So with great difficulty he extracted himself and looked at her. She looked broken, and afraid. Her eyes were tightly shut and looked very beautiful. Draco could not even dare to leave her hand, afraid he might never touch it again.

"Hermione?" She did not react just continued to shiver. Draco suddenly felt worried; her face was losing all color. She looked extremely pale and kept whispering his name then suddenly fell limp.

Draco panicked and without a moment's hesitation he lifted her in his arms, and apparated straight to St. Mungo's.